Minnesota State Community and Technical College set to close Detroit Lakes campus
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Minnesota State Community and Technical College says it’s moving forward with plans to close its campus in Detroit Lakes as soon as summer 2028.
“This was not an easy decision, and it was not made lightly,” Carrie Brimhall, president of the two-year school, said in a statement Tuesday.
“The Detroit Lakes campus has been part of the community for generations, and we recognize that this news may be disappointing or upsetting for many students, employees, alumni and community members,” Brimhall said. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure M State remains strong and well-positioned to serve students across the college for years to come.”
M State said the college remains financially sound and will continue to operate campuses in Moorhead, Fergus Falls and Wadena.
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The Detroit Lakes closure plan will be the subject of a Nov. 5 public meeting. It still needs to be approved by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. If approved, current students at the Detroit Lakes campus would be allowed to complete their programs.
There was no immediate word on what would happen to the campus property, located along State Highway 34 on the north side of the city.
The announcement comes after months of evaluation and discussion about the future of the Detroit Lakes campus, which college officials say is aging and serves far fewer students than in the past. A community college presence in Detroit Lakes dates back nearly 60 years.
M State was created in 2003 when Fergus Falls Community College merged with the three campuses of Northwest Technical College in Moorhead, Wadena and Detroit Lakes.
The Detroit Lakes closure announcement comes as the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which includes M State, confronts a challenging budget situation with costs rising faster than revenues.
“We can no longer afford to take incremental steps if we are to continue to fully serve our mission on behalf of Minnesota and must accelerate the needed work to ensure the long-term viability of Minnesota State,” Chancellor Scott Olson wrote last month.
Olson told MPR News last week that the system is facing a projected $30 million budget deficit and that it was considering potential campus closures.
